Russell secures olympic gold for USA in women's 100m hurdles

By: AFP
Published: 09:46 AM, 11 Aug, 2024
Russell secures olympic gold for USA in women's 100m hurdles
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Masai Russell of the United States snatched victory in the Olympic women's 100m hurdles on Saturday, edging out France's Cyrena Samba-Mayela in a photo finish.


Russell edged home in 12.33sec to take gold, just a whisker ahead of Samba-Mayela, who clinched the host nation's first athletics medal of the games in 12.34sec.


Puerto Rico's Jasmine Camacho-Quinn took bronze in 12.36sec.


In a thrilling final at the Stade de France, it looked as if home hope Samba-Mayela might have snatched a sensational gold medal after crossing the finish line neck-and-neck with Russell.


But after a brief delay, victory was awarded to Russell by the finest of margins ahead of the Frenchwoman.


Confirmation of Samba-Mayela's silver nevertheless drew one of the loudest roars of the week from the Parisian crowd.


Russell led a powerful US contingent into the final alongside compatriots Alaysha Thompson and US collegiate champion Grace Stark.


But Thompson's challenge faltered after she clipped a hurdle mid-race, leaving a three-way battle for gold with Russell, Samba-Mayela and Camacho-Quinn.

Categories : Sports

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